First Pitch: Thursday 7:08, Friday 7:08, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:08
Arms: Thursday: John Lackey, RHP (4-3, 3.08 ERA) vs. Jose Alvarez, LHP (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
Friday: Jon Lester, LHP (6-4, 4.37 ERA) vs. Doug Fister, RHP (6-4, 3.21 ERA)
Saturday: Allen Webster, RHP (0-1, 11.74 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer, RHP (10-0, 3.08 ERA)
Sunday: Felix Doubront, LHP (4-3, 4.38 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander, RHP (8-5, 3.72 ERA)
Yard: Comerica Park Watch it: NESN | FOX - Sat. Hear it: WEEI
The Matchup
Record: 44-30 (1st AL East)
Record: 39-31 (1st AL Central)
On road: 21-15
At home: 23-12
Streak: L1
Streak: L2
Leaders at the plate
Leaders at the plate
Average: Iglesias (.426)
Average: Cabrera (.361)
Homers: Ortiz (14)
Homers: Cabrera (19)
RBI: Ortiz (52)
RBI: Cabrera (71)
Leaders on the mound
Leaders on the mound
Wins: Buchholz (9)
Wins: Scherzer (10)
ERA: Buchholz (1.71) | Uehara (2.17)
ERA: Sanchez (2.76) | Benoit (1.80)
K's: Dempster (90)
K's: Scherzer (116)
Last time
The Sox won their final series against the Tigers of 2012, making it the next-to-last series they would win for the remainder of the season. Yeah, one of the final series victories came from July 30 - August 1. Since it was 2012, I won't get into too much detail. The Sox did beat Scherzer and Verlander, surprising from that club.
This time
Laser Show: David Ortiz
Ortiz has put together some pretty impressive numbers against the three big Tigers pitchers, in Fister, Scherzer, and Verlander. Here are some numbers to chew on:
Against Verlander: .333 BA (8/24), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 2B, 1.157 OPS
Fister: .313 BA (5/16), 2 2B, RBI, .790 OPS
Scherzer: .600 BA (6/10), 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 1.967 ERA
I have to share his numbers against closer/reliever, Jose Valverde: .667 Ba (2/3), 2 homers, 6 RBI, 3.167 OPS. Dang.
Pitch Around: Miguel Cabrera
Another one of those guys where you don't have to ask why.
Don't Fall Behind: Every starter
Even though every starter, except Alvarez, have a losing record against the Sox, doesn't mean they are going to continue to struggle. Max Scherzer has been pitching like a freakin' champ and has struck out a lot of batters. Alvarez has never gone up against the Sox, and first meetings haven't gone well for the Sox over the past few years. Jose Alvarez pitched very well in his first appearance, and is also another strikeout pitcher. These guys are good...very good.
How we see it goin' down
This is not the time to lose another 4 game series. Actually, it is never a good time to lose a 4-game series. Detroit is coming off a 3-game series loss to the Orioles, so the Sox have a chance to hit them while they are down. Verlander lost game 2, to lose his 5th of the season. Yeah, he is human. As much as I want to go with a series win in the Sox' favor, This feels more like a series split. Just the sight of the pitching lineup for Detroit is enough to kill my confidence in the Sox this weekend.

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